Method and apparatus for forming carbon dioxide pellets, compacting a bag with the pellets therein and inserting the compacted bag into a liquid container



1961 o. WOSERAU ET AL 3,011,296 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CARBONDIOXIDE PELLETS, COMPACTING A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTINGTHE COMPACTED BAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER Filed Nov. s, 1960 7Sheets-Sheet 1 GR/MD DE? ICE PE 577:5 6x004! D E 7 ICE saw: 84

.. Game-1e 344 $6394 C'OIVTJ/IVER INVENTOR. Orro NOSE/Q60 Arman/5r;

Dec. 5, 1961 o. WOSERAU ET AL FORMING CARBON DIOXIDE PELLETS, 0

3,01 1,296 OMPACTING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A BAG WITH THE PELLETSTHEREIN AND INSERTING THE COMPACTED BAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER FiledNov. 3, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV RS Orr-a Was-5km! y lineup 444006230Jrronmsr:

Dec. 5 1961 o. WOSERAU ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CARBONDIOXIDE PELLETS, CO

A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTING THE COMPACTED BAG INTO ALIQUID CONTAINER Filed Nov. 5, 1960 a Q Q Q h w U v m m u n w 1 S 2 kmHI UHZI H l may. a 1 .3 m5 NQ A 3 m a m w Eu h Q EN m fli/ I .3 8N Rw m0 f o STQ 8% m mm I N N I H mm 7 an r O UM 0 M/ 7 2 a 3% w NM" O/ WWMNmmN w Am 0 7 ll 9v A mun L l. Rm wNN OJ 4 & Q n- F 3w. 7 .m .HN h

,296 MPACTING O. WOSERAU ETAL FOR Dec. 5, 1961 3,011 MING CARBON DIOXIDEPELLETS, C0

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTINGTHE COMPACTED BAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER Filed NOV. 3, 1960 7Sheets-Sheet 4 FIE. 7

Al /79 I53 2% II I f. w 4: 0 0R 2 T... m m r V0 4 WWO? 3% W Y B Dec. 5,1961 O. WOSERAU ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORl JIING CARBON DIOXIDEPELLETS, C A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTING THE COMPACTEDBAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER Filed NOV. 3, 1960 FIE. 1.7.

INVENTORS Orra 11/085194!) BY lflkaw M Jam-Raw lrromwys 1951 o. WOSERAUET AL 3,01 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CARBON DIOXIDE PELLETS,COMPACTING A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTING THE COMPACTEDBAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed NOV. 3, 1960 U tedes,

souri Filed Nov. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 66,976

20 Claims. (Cl. 53-124) This invention relates to method and apparatusfor containing a given quantity of a sublimateable material andutilizing the contained solid for applying pressure within a liquidcontainer to dispense a liquid therefrom. More particularly, thisinvention relates to the method and apparatus to properly form pressuregenerating media and contain said pressure generating media within asealed flexible enclosure that is insertable in a liquid container forapplying pressure within the liquid container to force liquid out of thecontainer when the container is tapped.

For many years beer has been sold in kegs and dis pensed from the kegsat various intervals. Heretofore, a cylinder of carbon dioxide gas or apump has been connected to a tapped keg to apply pressure to force beerout of the tap when said tap is opened. It is desirable that beer bedispensed from a keg without the aid of a separate cylinder of carbondioxide gas or a separate pump for reasons of portability and ease ofhandling. To achieve this result, it is desirable to provide for the kegat the time of filling, means for providing a dispensing pressure in thekeg and at the same time provide a self contained unit. This inventionhas been made to achieve to the above ends.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved methodand apparatus for forming a pressure generating system and insertingsaid pressure generating system into a liquid container to applypressure inside said liquid container to force liquid out of saidcontainer when the container is tapped. It is a'further object of thisinvention to provide a novel method and apparatus for dispensing aliquid from a fixed volume container that includes inserting asublimateable material into a flexible wall bag, sealing the bag,gathering the bag into a compact bundle and finally inserting thecompacted bag into the liquid container.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a new andnovel method and apparatus for forming pellatized Dry Ice, sealing aflexible wall bag with the pelletized Dry Ice therein and inserting thesealed bag into a liquid container for applying pressure within thecontainer to dispense a liquid there-from.

It is still another object of this invention to provide new and improvedapparatus for retaining a bag in position to have a sublimateablematerial inserted therein'and that subsequently gathers said bag andinserts said gathered bag into a liquid container. It is still anadditional object of this invention to provide apparatus for retaining aplastic bag in position to have a sublimateable material disposedtherein, then seal the bag, next gather the bag, and finally insert thegathered bag into a liquid container.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide atent new andnovel apparatus for forming a given quantity of carbon dioxide snow andthen compacting the formed snow into pellet of a convenient size and ofsufficient hardness to be easily handled without crumbling.

Other and further objects are those inherent in the invention hereinillustrated, described and claimed, and it will be apparent as thedescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the aforegoing and related ends, this inventionthen comprises the featurse herein after fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims,'the following descriptionsetting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of theinvention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the variousways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings in which thecorresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which: 1

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the steps of this inventionfor forming Dry Ice into a pellet of proper size and shape andcontaining said Dry Ice to apply pressure within a liquid container;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the machine for gathering and inserting a baginto a liquid container, the door of said machine being shown in an openposition and broken away to better illustrate the bag conveyingmechanism while the top of the plunger mechanism is broken away andoffset from the rest of the machine. The lower portion of the plungermechanism at line AA is integrally formed with the portion of theplunger mechanism illustrated at line BB;

' FIGURE 3 is a front view of hte machine illustrated in FIGURE 2., saidview showing a fragmentary portion of the plunger apparatus in a baginsert position and the bag opening and heat seal apparatus in a datumposition; FIGURE 4'is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view takenalong the line and in the direction of the arrows 4--4 of FIGURE 2 toillustrate the belt assemblies for conveying a bag to the bag gatheringposition and for holding the bag prior to said bag being inserted intothe liquid container;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the lineand in the direction of the arrows 55 of FIGURE 3 showing the heat sealapparatus in a datum position; the bag opening apparatus in a bag openposition in solid lines and a bag grip position in dotted lines; v

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar to the viewillustrated in FIGURE 5 except that the heat seal apparatus isillustrated in a heat seal position and the bag opening apparatus in adatum position in solid lines;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the plungerassembly in pelletized Dry Ice insert position, said view being takenalong the line and in the direction of the arrows 77 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary front vertical view of the plunger assemblyand apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 7 shown in the same position;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary horizontal view taken along the line andlooking in the direction of the arrows 9 -9 of FIGURE 8 to show themechanism for alternately locking the plunger assembly in the Dry Iceinsert position and the position for inserting the gathered bag into theliquid container;

FIGUREIO is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken along theline and looking in the direction of the arrows 10-10 of FIGURE 3 toillustrate the funnel end of the bag gathering tube;

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line andlooking in the direction of the arrows 11-11 of FIGURE 10 tofurtherillustrate the lower end of the bag gathering tube;

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view of the keg illustrated in FIGURE 2lying on its side with the expanded bag in the keg and the keg tappedfor dispensing;

FIGURE 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the control mechanism andcontrol circuitry of the bag compacting and inserting machine;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the apparatus forpelletizing the Dry Ice prior to being inserted into the plastic bag;

FIGURE 15 is a front view of the Dry Ice pelletizing machine taken alongthe line and looking in the direction of the arrows 1515 of FIGURE 14, apart of said view being shown in cross-section.

Basically, the steps of this invention for providing a self-containedpressurized unit for dispensing beverages includes first grinding agiven volume of Dry Ice into Dry Ice snow, next compacting the givenvolume of Dry Ice snow to predetermined dimensions to form a pellet thatis easily handled and of a weight within a given weight range, holdingan expandable bag having opening with the bag mouth open, next insertingthe Dry Ice pellet into the opened bag, thence seal the bag, then gatherthe bag into a bundle, next insert the compacted bag with the Dry Icepellet therein into a fixed volume container that is partially filledwith the liquid-to be dispensed, and finally after the Dry Ice in thebag has sublimated and caused the bag to expand to drive the air out ofthe container, tighten the cap on the container. After theaforementioned steps have been carried out, the expanded bag will exerta pressure upon the liquid within the keg sufiicient to dispense underpressure substantially all the liquid in the keg.

Referring now in particular to FIGURES 2 and 3, there is illustratedapparatus of this invention, generally designated 20, for compacting aplastic bag 21 and inserting the compacted bag into a keg 22. The bagcompacting and inserting machine 20 includes a frame 23 which has a pairof long front uprights 24, a pair of shorter back uprights 25, a pair oftop longitudinal cross pieces 26, a pair of intermediate longitudinalcross pieces 27, a pair of toptransverse cross pieces 28 and a pair ofintermediate transverse cross pieces 29, joined together as illustratedin FIGURES 2 and 3. As may be noted in the aforementioned figures, thefront uprights 24 extend upwardly above the upper cross pieces 28 asubstantial distance while said cross pieces are located at the. sameelevations as the top of the back uprights 25.

On either side of the machine there is provided a door panel 32 that ishingably secured by hinges (not shown) to the adjacent back upright 25.Each door panel is of a size to close the rectangular space enclosed bythe cross pieces 27, 28 and the uprights 24, 25. On each door panelthere is mounted a germicidal unit 33 which includes a reflector panel34 bolted to the respective doors. Each germicidal unit also includesgermicidal lamps 35 which are mounted on the panel 34, a transformer 36and appropriate electric circuitry 37 for connecting said transformerand germicidal lamps to the power supply.

The back panels 38 are secured to the uprights 25 and cross pieces 28,29 in spaced relation to one another and on either side of thelongitudinal axis LL (see FIG- URE 4). Each of the back panels has aninturned flange 39 which in conjunction with the inturned flange of theadjacent panel forms a vertically extending throat 40. A pair of frontpanels 41 are likewise secured to the adjacent upright 24 and crosspieces 28 and 29 in spaced relation to one another to form a throat 42.

Bag conveyor assembly 54.A right carrier plate 43 and a left carrierplate 44 are mounted equal distances from the center longitudinal axisLL at an elevation slightly above the inturned flanges 39. The carrierplates 43, 44 are of a length to extend rearwardly of the rear panels 38and a substantial distance forwardly of the front panels 41. Theaforementioned carrier plates are bolted adjacent either end to agenerally U-shaped bracket 45, each bracket in turn being bolted to therespective cross piece 28 (see FIGURE 8).

A bracket 46 is bolted to the back end of the left hand carrier plate44. A bag top guide 47 is at one end hingably secured to the bracket 46by a hinge 49. The bag top guide has a horizontal flange 47a and avertical flange 47b. The aforementioned guide may be pivoted from aposition parallel to the longitudinal axis (see FIGURE 4) to a positionsubstantially at right angles thereto and preferably is of a longerlength than the width of bags being used. The purpose of the guide willbe set forth hereinafter.

Rotatably secured to each of the carrier plates rearwardly of the panels38 by a stud shaft 50 for transverse adjustment is a roller 48 (seeFIGURES 3 and 4), each shaft being extended through an elongated slot. Aroller 52 is rotatably mounted on an intermediate shaft 53 which in turnis mounted for transverse adjustment on the center portion of each ofthe respective carrier plates. A plurality of rollers 55 are rotatablysecured to the carrier plate 44 by eccentic adjustment members 56, therollers 55, front roller 52 and end roller 48 being secured to the plate44 to overhang the space intermediate the two carrier plates. A pair ofrollers 57 are likewise secured to the carrier plate 43 by eccentricadjustment members 56, said rollers 57 being located longitudinallyintermediate the rollers 55. It may be noted in FIGURE 4 the adjacentperipheral edges of the rollers 55 extend more closely adjacent thecarrier plate 43 than the corresponding peripheral portions of therollers 48, 52. Likewise, the rollers 57 are located more closelyadjacent the carrier plate 44 than the corresponding peripheral portionof the front and end rollers that are mounted on the plate 43.

A V-belt 58 is extended around the rollers mounted on the plate 43 whilea V-belt 59 is extended around the aforementioned rollers mounted on theplate 44. As a result of the aforementioned positioning of the rollerson said plates, the adjacent outer surfaces of the V-belts are held inabutting relation to one another and are caused to Weave back and forthin a transverse direction on either side of the longitudinal axis. Bymounting the rollers 55, 57 on members 56, said rollers may be adjustedwhereby belts 58, 59 will supportingly convey a plastic bag.

A transverse support bar 62 is bolted at either end to an intermediatecross piece 27 directly beneath the stud shaft 53 (see FIGURE 2). Abottom support plate 63 at one end is secured to the transverse supportbar 62 and at an intermediate portion is bolted to the front cross piece29, said support plate being located directly beneath the carrier plates43, 44. The forward ends of the carrier plates and the bottom supportplate are located substantially the same distance forwardly of theframe.

A pair of front shafts 65 are journaled at their lower ends in the frontportion of the plate 63, 'and at their upper ends in the respectivecarrier plate 43, 44 (see FIGURES 4 and 11). The shafts are locatedsubstantially the same distance from the longitudinal axis but on theopposite sides thereon. Journaled for rotation in the back end of theplate 63 are a drive pulley 66 and a second drive pulley 67, saidpulleys being located equal distance from the longitudinal axis. Thereduced upper end of the pulley 67 is journaled for rotation in thecarrier plate 43 While the reduced upper end of the drive pulley 66 isjournaled for rotation in the carrier plate 44. A tension roller 69 isrotatably mounted at opposite ends in one end of each plate 70, whilethe opposite end of each plate 70 is pivotally secured to the respectivecarrier plate and the support plate 63 by a pivot 71, there being aroller 69 on either'side of the longitudial' axis.

A plurality of vertically spaced flat belts 72 are extended around eachpulley shaft 65 and each drive pulley whereby a belt on a shaft anddrive pulley is located at the same elevation as a corresponding'belt onthe other shaft and drive pulley to abut against said correspondingbelt. Into each of the mounting brackets 74 which are welded to thecarrier plates and bottom plate is threaded an adjustment screw 73 tobear against the respective plate 70 to properly tension the flat belts72, each tension roller 69 being located adjacent a drive pulley and inposition to bear against opposite surfaces of the belt from therespective drive pulley. The tension rollers are provided with aplurality of vertically spaced enlarged diametric portions 75 to retainthe flat belts in proper vertical spaced relation.

As may be noted in FIGURES 2 and 4, the belts 58, 59 are mounted abovethe carrier plates while the fiat belts 72 are mounted below the carrierplate, the portions of the belts 72 going around the pulleys 66, 67being located almost directly beneath the portion of the belts 58, 59extending around the rollers 52. As a result a bag that is clampinglyengaged at upper edge between the belts 58, 59 has the leading edgethereof passed directly between the fiat belts at pulleys 66, 67.

The structure for driving the aforementioned belt mechanism includes amotor 79 which is bolted on a plate 78, said plate in turn being Weldedto the pair of lower cross pieces '77 which are secured to the uprights.Also mounted on the plate '78 is a reducer 81 that has a reducer sheave8 2. The reducer sheave is drivingly connected to the motor sheave Silby a belt 83. The reducer sheave in turn is driv-ingly connected to thelower end of the reduced diameter pulley extension 84 of the pulley 67through appropriate drive connections( not shown) of the reducer. Theupper end of the pulley extension 84 is formed integral with the pulley67 adjacent thesupport plate 63. A spur gear 85 is keyed on the upperend of the pulley extension beneath theplate 63 to drivea second spurgear mounted on the reduced lower end of the pulley 66.

The reduced upper end of each of the pulleys 66, 67 which extendsupwardly above a carrier plate has a drive sprocket 87 keyed thereto. Asecond sprocket S8 is keyed on the upper end of each of the stud shaftsand is drivingly connected to the sprocket 87 on the respective carrierplate by a chain 89.

A lower bag guide 93 is mounted on either side of the longitudinal axisbeneath a V-belt to aid in directing the bottom portion of a bag betweenthe flat belts (see FIG- URE 2). Each bag guide includes a verticalsupport rod 94, that at its lower end is secured to a bar 95, said barhaving a bolt 63 extended therethrough and through the bottom plate tosecure the bar and plate to transverse bar 62. A pair of verticallyspaced horizontally and longitudinally extending rods 96 are secured toeach support rod 94 by adjustment screws 97 to permit longitudinaladjustment of the rods. The back portions of the horizontal rodsconverged outwardly'from the longitudinal axis to facilitate moving theleading edge of the plastic bag between the bag guides, it being notedthat the forward ends of the aforementioned rods are closely adjacentthe fiat belts while the rearward end of the rods are closely adjacentthe throat 40.

A vertically extending gathering tube 100 is disposed to have theelongated slot 19/2 formed therein located within close proximity of theforward diverging port-ions of the flat belts as said belts go aroundthe pulley shafts 65 whereby a bag being carried in a forward directionby said belts is passed through the slot (see FIGURES 2, 3 and 7). Thegathering tube extends upwardly through appropriate cut out portionsformed in the carrier plates and hasla horizontal flange 101 formed onthe upper end thereof which in turn is secured to said carrier plates(see FIGURE The lower end of the aforementioned tube extends downwardlythrough a somewhat semicircular aperture 103 formed in the forward endof the support plate 63 (see FIGURES 1 0 and 11). A support plateextension 104 is secured to the support plate by cap screws 106, saidextension having a semicircular aperture 105 through which the remainingportion of the lower end of the tube extends.

6 The gathering tube has a lip 107 that abuts against the portion of thesupport plate forming the wall of aperture 103 and which extendsinwardly beneath the divergmg portions of the flat belts as said beltsround the shafts 65. The upper edge of the lip is formed'below theenlarged diametric portions of the shafts 65 and is at the same level asthe lower edge of the slot 102.

. Keg support assembly 108.-Bolted to the lower end of each of theuprights 24 to extend forwardly thereof is a channel iron 1.10 (seeFIGURES 2 and 3). A pair of transverse vertically spaced plates 111 arebolted at their ends to the respective channel irons. Each of the plates111 has a central aperture located directly beneath the gathering tubeto have the vertical extending platform shaft 112 mounted for movementtherein. A platform 113 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 112 tobe located above the top transverse plate, said platform having aplurality of circumferentially spaced lugs 114 bolted thereto forabutting against the lower peripheral edge of the keg 22.

The aforementioned structure mounts the keg for movement from a positionto locate the bung hole 125 a substantial distance below the lower endof the gathering tube to a bag insert position to have the lower end ofthe gathering tube extend into said bung hole, the gathering tube beingof a smaller outside diameter than the bung hole (see FIGURE 10).

The structure for moving a platform between the aforementioned positionsand locking said platform in the bag insert position includes a pivotshaft 116 that at its either end is journaled for rotation in the outerends of the channel irons; said shaft being located forwardly of theplatform shaft 112. A radial arm 117 has one end pivotally secured tothe pivot shaft and an outer clevised end 118. The clevised end 118 ispivotally secured to the platform shaft by a pivot 124, said pivot beingmoveably secured in elongated slots formed in the clevised end A secondradial arm 120 at one endis fixedly secured to the outer end of thepivot shaft and at its other end has a foot pedal 122 welded thereto,said radial arm 120 extending from. the shaft in a direction oppositethe radial arm 117. An arcuate lock member 121 is fixedly secured to thepivot shaft intermediate the radial arm 120 and the adjacent channelend. .An elongated look I arm 128 is pivotally connected to the channeliron by the position.

pivot member 129 to pivot about an axis intermediate the pivot shaft andupright 24. Thelock arm is notched at 130 to have a vertical edge thatis abutted against by a straight edge of the lock member 121 when theplatform is in a bag insert position to prevent the platform moving outof said position. A spring 131'at one end is secured to the lock armintermediate the notch and pivot 129 and at the other end is connectedto the channel iron at a higher elevation than the pivot shaft 116, saidspring resiliently retaining the lock arm in a locked position asillustrated in FIGURE 2. By depressing the foot pedal 122 a small amountin a direction of the arrow 133, the lock arm may be easily moved out ofthe locked position whereupon the pivot shaft and the structureconnected thereto may be rotated in the direction of arrow 132 to permitthe platform being moved to a lowered However, when the platform isagain moved to a bag insert position, the lock arm will be resilientlyurged to a locked position to hold said platform in said bag insertposition.

Plunger assembly 140.An upper angle iron 141 at either end is bolted tothe upper end 'of the uprights 24 for pivotally supporting the plungerassembly at a said plates and appropriate apertures formed in theintermediate portions of the angle iron and cross piece respectively.The lock plate 149 is bolted to cross piece -28 and extends forwardly ofsaid angle iron. A retainer 142 is secured to the pivot shaft to bearagainst the pie shaped plate 145 which in turn rests on the lock plate.A retainer 147 is mounted on the lower end of the shaft. The plate 144likewise is mounted for pivotal movement between angle iron 141 andretainer 147. Extended between and secured to each of the outer apexportions of the plates 144, 145 is a vertical spacer rod 151.

A piston cylinder combination 152, having a piston rod 153 extendedthrough an aperture formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of theplate 145 adjacent the right hand spacer 151 and a cylinder 156, issecured to said plate 145 to extend vertically upward therefrom. A notch154 is provided in the outer peripheral edge of plate 144- to have thecylinder extend upwardly therethrough, there being a bracket 155 forsecuring the adjacent portion of the cylinder to the plate 144 (see FIG-URE 3).

Mounted onthe upper end of the cylinder is a solenoid valve 158 (seeFIGURE 2). The solenoid valve has a normally open port 161 a normallyclosed port 161, a connecting member including a control port 159, and asolenoid coil 162 for moving said connecting member (see FIGURE 13).When the solenoid coil is de-energized the connecting member connectsthe control port to the normally open port, however, upon beingenergized the connecting member is moved to connect the control port tothe normally closed port. The control port 159 is connected via line 163to the air supply 164 while the normally open port is connected via line165 to the port 166 at the lower end of the cylinder. As a result, whenthe solenoid is de-energized, the air supply is connected directly tothe port 166 to retain the piston, piston rod 153, and the plunger 167that is connected to the lower end of the piston rod in an up position.

The normally closed port 161 is connected via line 168 to the port 169at the upper end of the plunger cylinder. Upon energizing the solenoidvalve, the control port is connected to the normally closed port 161 toapply air under pressure from the air supply to the upper end of thecylinder. At the same time, the lower end of the cylinder exhauststhrough a quick exhaust (not shown). The piston in moving to a downposition adjacent the port 172 permits air under pressure to flowthrough line 171 to a pilot valve which automatically moves theconnecting member from port 161 to port 160. As a result of theaforementioned structure, the solenoid only has to be momentarilyenergized and the connecting port will be connected to the normallyclosed port for sufficient time to move the plunger to a fully downposition. Then the pilot valve will be actuated to operate theconnecting member to connect the control port to the normally open port.It is to be mentioned that when air under pressure is not being appliedthrough port 161 to port 169, it exhausts through a quick exhaust (notshown).

As previously mentioned, the plunger assembly is mounted for pivotalmovement between the plunger operating position (bag insert position)wherein the plunger is directly over the gathering tube to havetheplunger moved through said tube and a pellet insert position whereinthe plunger is angularly spaced from the gathering tube. In the latterposition, the notch 154 in plate 145 is located above tube 100, saidnotch being provided to facilitate inserting Dry Ice pellets into bagsheld by the convey assembly. The plunger assembly includes latchmechanism, generally designated 175, for retaining the plunger assemblyin either one of the two aforementioned positions (FIGURES 7-9). Thelatch mechanism includes a latch arm 176 slidably mounted on the undersurface of the plate 145 to extend radially relative to the pivot shaft146. The latch is of a length to extend outwardly'beyond the plate andto have the inner end extend into one of the two circumferentiallyspaced notches 179, formed in the outer peripheral edge of the lockplate 149. The notch 179 is located to 'act in conjunction with thelatch arm for holding the plunger assembly in the plunger operatingposition (see FIGURE 3) while the notch 180 is located to act inconjunction with the latch arm for holdin the plunger assembly in thepellet insert position (see FIGURE 7).

A pair of latch brackets 177, 178 are mounted on the under side of theplate 145 in radial spaced relation to mount the latch arm for onlyradial movement, the bracket 177 being located more closely adjacent thepivot shaft 146 than bracket 178. A handle member 184 is provided at theouter end of the latch arm to facilitate moving said latch arm while theinner end of the latch arm is tapered in a manner corresponding to thetapered notches to facilitate the latch arm moving to a locked position.A coiled spring 183 at one end is secured to a peg 181 mounted on thebracket 177 and at the other end to a peg 182 which is secured to thelock arm closely adjacent the outer end thereof. The spring 183resiliently retains the inner end of the latch arm in abutting relationwith the outer edge of the plate 145'.

Bag opening assembly 190.Mounted on the forward end of the carrierplates to facilitate opening a bag that is at least partially located inthe gathering tube, is a bag opening assembly, generally designated 19%(see PIG- URES 8, 6 and 5). The bag opening assembly includes a mountingplate 191 that is bolted by bolts 192 to the carrier plates to extendforwardly thereof. .lournaled for rotation in the mounting plate andextending therethrough are vertical shafts 193, 194, said shafts beinglocated on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis and equally spacedtherefrom. An elongated lever arm 195 at one end is keyed to the upperend of the shaft 193. A bag clamp arm 196 at one end is connected to thelever arm in radial spaced relation to the shaft 193 to extendperpendicular to said lever arm. A vacuum device 197 is mounted on theopposite end of the bag clamp arm 196 at a location in close proximityto the gathering tube to extend inwardly toward the longitudinal axis.

A second clamp arm 198 having an offset at one end has the offsetportion thereof keyed to the upper end of the shaft 194. A second vacuumdevice 199 is mounted on the opposite end of the bag clamp arm 198 toextend inwardly toward the vacuum device 197. V

Mounted on the lower end of each of vertical shafts 193, 194 is a spurgear 2% to form a matching set with the spur gear on the other shaft.Thus, when the lever 195 is manually pivoted about its axis to pivot thebag clamp arm 196, the bag clamp arm 198 is moved the same angularamount but in the opposite direction. Pegs 261, 202 are mounted on plate191 in spaced relation in position to limit the rotational movement ofthe bag clamp arm 196 (see FIGURE 5), peg 202 being located to permitthe vacuum devices being brought to the longitudinal axis but not tocross thereover. Peg 201 is located to limit the spacing of the vacuumdevices.

As may be noted in FIGURES 5 and 6, the bag opening assembly has threepositions, namely a datum position such as illustrated in solid lines inFIGURE 6, a bag open position such as illustrated in dotted line inFIGURE 6 and solid line in FIGURE 5, and a bag grip position asillustrated in dotted line in FIGURE 5. A first spring detent (notshown) is provided for holding the bag lever arm in the datum positionand a second spring detent is provided to hold the lever arm in the bagopen position.

In order to apply a vacuum to the vacuum devices there is provided acontinuously running motor 262 that is operatively connected to thevacuum pump 293 (see FIG- URE 13). The vacuum pump is connected by aline 267 to the control port 206 of the solenoid valve 204. The solenoidvalve has a connecting member operated by Solenoid coil 209 toalternately connect the control port to the normally closed port 210 andthe normally open port 2%, the control port being connected to the port210 when the solenoid is de-energized. The port 2135 is connected vialine 203 to the junction 209 which in turn is connected by a line 211 toone of the vacuum devices and by a second line 211 to the other vacuumdevice. The bag open switch 221 includes a housing 220' mounted at oneend of the carrier plate 44 to extend transversely outwardly therefrom.A pivot shaft 217 is journaled in the housing and has one end of theswitch arm 218 keyed thereto. The opposite end of the switch arm has aroller 219 mounted in the clevised end thereof to roll on theintermediate portion of the lever arm 195 when said lever arm is movedbetween a bag open position and a bag grip position. The lever arm in adatum position is spaced from the roller but contacts the rollerintermediate the datum position and the bag open position. Linkage 216is connected to the shaft 217 for moving the switch blade'215 from anormally open position to a closed position as the lever arm is movedfrom a datum position to a bag open position, there being spring means(not shown) for returning the switch arm and associated members to thedatum position when the lever arm is moved from the bag open position tothe datum position.

Heat seal assembly 225.-l;'n order to seal the mouth portion of a bagafter it has been opened and a Dry Ice pellet has been inserted therein,there is provided heat seal assembly 225 mounted on the carrier platesintermediate the gathering tube and the cross piece 23 (see FIGURES 5, 6and 8). The heat seal assembly 225 includes a transverse spacer 226mounted on each of the carrier plates forward of bracket 45. Mounted onthe inner end of each spacer 226 is a vertical plate 227. The

transverse support bar 228 at its either end is secured to one of thevertical plates, said vertical plate extending a substantial distanceupwardly from the respective carrier plate. On each side of thelongitudinal axis there is provided a shaft 239 which at its lower endis journaled for rotation in the respective carrier plate and at itsupper end is journaled in the support bar 228.

Mounted on each of the shafts 239 intermediate the support bar 223 andthe spacer 226 is an annular spacer 229 and one end of a heat seal arm233, 234 respectively, said heat seal arms being located intermediatethe plates 228 and the spacer 229. The heat seal arms are of the sameconstruction except that one is a left handed arm and the other is aright handed arm.

The heat seal arm 233 includes an elongated lower member 2330, an uppermember 233b, and an annular spacer 233a located intermediate the members2331; and 233c and through which the shaft is extended. Each of the heatseal arms extends forwardly from the pivot shaft so that the bag openingassembly in part is located beneath said arms. The heat seal arm 234likewise has an upper member 234b, lower member 2340 and an annularspacer 234a.

An electrically heated heat seal pad 236 is clampingly engaged betweenthe enlarged outer ends 233e,. 234e respectively of each, heat seal arm,there being provided clamping bolts 233 and spacers 239 mounted on saidbolts intermediate the upper and lower members for retaining therespective members in clamping engagement with the heat seal pad.

In order to simultaneously operate each of the heat seal pads throughthe same angular distance in opposite directions, a segmented gearmember 242 is fixedly secured to each of the pivot shafts 234 To movethe heat seal pads between a datum position as illustrated in FIG- URE Sand a heat seal position as illustrated in FIGURE 6, there is provided atransversely extending piston cylinder combination 245 which is securedto the carrier plate 44 by a mounting bracket 246. The piston cylindercom bination includes a cylinder 247 and a piston rod 243 having aclevised end 249 threaded on the outer end thereof. One end of a linkage250 is pivotally connected at 251 in the clevised end and at the otherend is pivotally connected at 252 to the portion of the heat seal arm234 intermediate the heat seal pad and spacer 234a. The piston cylindercombination has a spring (not shown) that constantly urges the pistonand piston rod to a retracted position as illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The structure for controlling the application of air under pressure topiston cylinder combination 245 includes a Solenoid valve generallydesignated 255 (see FIGURE 13). The solenoid valve has a solenoid coil259, an inlet port 258, an exhaust port 257, a control port 256 and amovable member operated by the solenoid coil for alternately placing influid communication a control port with the exhaust port and thecontrol. port with the outlet port. When the solenoid coil is in thedeenergized position the control port is in tluid communication with theexhaust port.

The exhaust port is connected by a line 261 to the exhaust 266 while theoutlet .port is connected by a line 264 to the air supply. The controlport is connected by a line 263 to the port 265 at the back end of thecylinder 24-7. Thus, upon energizing the coil 259 air under pressure isapplied from the air supply 154 to the port 265 to move the piston andpiston rod 248 to an extended position whereby the heat seal pads aremoved to a heat seal position as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

Electrical system 266.The electric circuitry and electrical componentsof this invention, generally designated 266, are as schematicallyillustrated in FIGURE 13. Electricity for operating the electricalcomponents of the bag compacting and inserting machine is suppliedthrough main lines L1, L2. A plurality of junctions are provided on themain line L1, said junctions including junctions 275, 276, 277, 278,279, 280 and 291. An on-ofi switch 272 having a terminal 271, a secondterminal 273 and a switch member 274 for making and breaking theconnection between the two terminals is provided in the main line L1intermediate the source of power and junction 291. The main line L2 hasa plurality of junctions thereon, said junctions being designated 281,282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 239, and 290 respectively.

The heat seal circuitry includes a thermostat 272 connected across thejunction 291 and 292. A heater component of the heat seal pad 236 isconnected across junctions 290 and 292 while the heater components ofthe second heat seal pad is connected across junctions 292 and 281.

The circuitry for controlling the actuation of the heat seal padsbetween a datum position and the heat seal position includes a manuallyoperated push-button switch 298 connected across junctions 276 and 297.The solenoid coil 259 of the valve 255 is cohnected across junctions 297and 283. In order to hold the heat seal pads in a sealed position forapreselected interval there is provided a timer 304 having a timer motorconnected across the junctions 284 and 299, junction 299 being connectedvia line 300 to junction 297. The solenoid portion of the hold relay 395is connected across junctions 285 and 301, junction 301 being connectedby a line 3416 to junction 299. The hold relay 395 upon being energizedcloses the normally open hold relay switch member 308, said switchmember being connected across junctions 309 and 301.

A timer switch 310 is connected across junctions 309 and 277. The timer3% is the type that normally has the timer switch 316 in a closedposition and upon being energized, retains the timer switch in a closedposition. At the end of the time cycle, the timer moves the timer switchto. an open position for suflicient time to permit the hold relay to be-de-energized and the hold relay switch be moved to an open position.There-upon the timer switch is again returned to a closed position.Thus, upon manually operating the switch 298 to a closed position, thehold in relay is energized to close the hold relay switch 308 andthereby establish the circuit for supplying current to energize thesolenoid valve 255 for a predetermined time even though the switch 298is permitted to open. This results in the heat seal pads being moved tothe heat seal position. The switch 255 remains energized until the timer394 operates the timer switch 310 to an open position. Uponde-energization of the solenoid coil 259, the control port 256 isconnected to exhaust 269 to exhaust cylinder 247 whereupon the heat sealpads are moved to the datum position.

The motor switch 314 is connected across junctions 2'78 and 312 whilethe motor 79 is connectd across junctions 312 and 286. The motor switch314 is of the type that is resiliently urged to an open position,however upon being manually closed, it supplies current to the motor 79for operating said motor.

A bag push switch 315 is connected across junctions 275 and 317, itbeing noted that switches 315 and 298 also are of the type that areresiliently urged to an open position. The solenoid coil 162 of the bagpusher solenoid valve 158 is connected across junctions 317 and 282.Thus, by manually operating the switch 315, the bag pusher solenoidvalve is energized and remains energized as long as the switch 315 isheld in a closed position.

An on-ofi switch 318 is connected across junctions 2'79 and 316. Thegermicidal lamp circuitry 319 of one side of the machine which includesa transformer 36 and a lamp 35 is connected across junctions 316 andjunction 287 while the corresponding germicidal lamp circuitry 320 onthe opposite side of the machine is connected across junctions 316 and288.

The vacuum pump motor 202 is connected across junctions 280 and 289, itbeing noted the only switch for turning the vacuum motor oif is theon-off switch 272 in the main line L1. The vacuum pump motor isoperatively connected to the vacuum pump 203.

The circuitry for energizing the vacuum solenoid valve includes the bagopen switch 221 which has a switch contact member 215. The bag openswitch is connected across junctions 280 and 325 while the solenoid coilof the vacuum solenoid valve is connected across junctions 325 and 289.As previously mentioned, switch contact member 215 is moved between anopen and a closed position through the operation of the lever 195.

The manually operated switch members 272, 314, 298 and 315 are mountedin a control panel 330 that is secured to the front of the machine.

The structure of the bag compacting and inserting machine of thisinvention having been described, the operation thereof will now bebriefly set forth. As has been inferred heretofore, the machine 20 ofthis invention has been provided to aid in placing pelletized Dry Ice ina plastic bag and then inserting the bag with solid Dry Ice therein intothe liquid container. In order to facilitate the description of theoperation of this machine, the bag 21 has been given designations 21a-Zle and 21h for various positions of the bag.

The type of bag used is a relatively large flexible air tight containerwhich is capable of expanding such as a plastic bag. The bag asinitially provided for insertion into the bag compacting and insertingmachine is enclosed at the bottom and has a relatively small opening atthe top such as shown in 21s in FIGURE 5. It is desirable to use aplastic bag that has a length L of approximately three times the heightH of the keg 22.

Initially the bag top guide 47 is pivoted from a position at rightangles to the longitudinal axis to a position parallel thereto. Theon-off switch 272 is closed and the switch 317 is moved to a closedposition to energize the germicidal lamp circuits so that the bag passedthrough the machine is sterilized. Then switch 314 is manually held in aclosed position to actuate the motor 12 79 while the top edge of the bagis positioned to abut against flange 47b of the bag guide and then thebag is moved forwardly so that the leading edge 21 thereof entersbetween the rearward portions of belts 58, 59, it being noted that byaligning the top edge of the bag with flange 47b, the bag mouth islocated at the proper elevation for sealing by the heat seal assembly ata later point in the cycle.

As the belts 58, 59 carry the bag in a forwardly direction the leadingedge thereof passes between the bag guides. Since the rollers 55, 57 areoffset, the upper edge of the bag is firmly held in position due to thebelts 58, 59 carrying the bag (as at 21bFIGURE 2) to cause it to weaveback and forth across the longitudinal axis LL.

Belts 58, 59 carry the bag forwardly to move the leading edge thereofbetween the sets of flat belts 72. As may be noted in FIGURE 2 the upperedge of the bag is at a higher elevation than the carrier plates andlikewise at a higher elevation than the uppermost of the flat belts.Once the bag has been moved forwardly by the flat belts to position theleading edge adjacent the forward portion of the gathering tube, 100,switch 314 is permitted to open to stop the motor 79.

The hand lever is now manually moved from the datum position (solidlines-FIGURE 6) to a bag grip position (dotted line-FIGURE 5). As thehand lever is being moved in the direction of arrow 213 from the datumposition to the bag open position (solid line- FIGURE 5) the lever abutsagainst the roller 219 and forces the roller from the solid lineposition of FIGURE 5 to the dotted line position in the same figure.This results in switch member 215 being moved to a closed positionwhereupon as has been described heretofore, the solenoid coil 209 isenergized, and the vacuum pump is connected to apply a vacuum to vacuumdevices 197, 199. By further moving the hand lever in the direction ofthe arrow 213, the vacuum devices are brought to a position adjacent theopposite walls of the bag adjacent the bag opening to clampingly engagesaid walls (dotted line position, FIGURE 5). Now the lever arm ismanually rotated in the directionopposite the arrow 213 to the bag openposition whereby the bag opening is held open as shown in solid lines inFIGURE 5 at 210.

After the bag mouth has been opened, a pellet of Dry Ice 330 which isformed as is set forth hereinafter, is inserted through the opening ofthe bag. Next the lever arm is moved to the datum position which permitsthe roller 219 to be resiliently moved to the solid line position ofFIGURE 6 to open the switch member 215 and thereby discontinue theapplication of vacuum through the vacuum devices.

After the Dry Ice pellet has been inserted into the opened bag and thehand lever moved to a datum position, the heat seal button 298 ismomentarily dispersed to energize the heat seal hold in circuit and thesolenoid valve 255. As a result air under pressure is applied from airsupplied through solenoid valve 255 to the outer end of the pistoncylinder combination 245 to move the piston and piston rod 248 in thedirection of the arrow 327 and thereby cause the heat seal pads to bemoved from the datum position illustrated in FIG- URE 5 to a heat sealposition illustrated in FIGURE 6 to seal the bag opening as at 21d. Aheater temperature control (not shown) and the timer are both adjustableso that the bag may be properly sealed.

After the timer cycle has been completed, the hold in circuit isde-energized as set forth heretofore and thereupon the cylinder port 265is connected through the solenoid valve to the quick exhaust 260. Thespring (not shown) moves the piston and piston rods 248 in a directionopposite the arrows 327 to return the heat seal pads to a datumposition.

After the bag has been sealed, the bag drive motor is again energizedwhereupon the bag is again moved in trated in part at 21th in FIGURE 4.After all of the bag has been moved into the gathering tube, the drivemotor is stopped. Now the plunger assembly 140' is pivoted from theposition illustrated in FIGURE 7 to the bag insert position illustratedin FIGURE 3 by first moving the lock arm 176 in the direction of thearrows 349 to move the end thereof out of the notch 180 and thencerotated in the direction of arrow 341 to pivot the whole plungerassembly to the bag insert position. Now the lock arm is permitted tomove into the notch 179 to lock the plunger assembly in the bag insertposition and thence the bag plunger switch 315 is momentarily closed toenergize the solenoid valve 158. This results in the air supply beingconnected to the upper end of the plunger cylinder at 169 to cause theplunger 167 to move in a downward direction (direction of the arrows345) into the gathering tube. The plunger pushes the gathered bagdownwardly through the tube into the open bung hole 125 of the keg 22.Due to the provisions of the lip 107 all of the bag including thetrailing edge is pushed through the tube into the keg.

The piston of the plunger cylinder in moving adjacent the port 172permits a small amount of air under pressure to pass through line 171 toactuate the pilot valve of the valve 158 to cause the connecting memberof said valve to connect the control port to port 166 of the cylinderand the upper end of the cylinder being exhausted through the quickexhaust (not shown). This results in the plunger 167 being retracted inthe direction opposite arrow 345. The lock member 176 isthen moved to anout position and the plunger assembly is pivoted to the datum positionof FIGURE 7.

After the bag with Dry Ice therein has been inserted in keg 22, lock arm128 is moved in the direction of the arrow 133 to permit the platform133 being moved to a lowered position, it being understood that the footpedal 122 is used to control the lowering movement of said platform. Thecap 34-6 of the keg 22 is loosely turned in the bung hole 125 and isleft in a slightly loosened condition so that any air that has enteredwith the insertion of the bag may be forced out of the keg as theplastic bag expands. When all the air has been expanded from the keg,the cap is drawn tight.

Shortly after a plastic bag with the Dry Ice pellet therein has beeninserted into the keg, the pellet sublimates to expand the bag asillustrated 21s in FIGURE 12, it being understood that at the time thekeg is positioned as illustrated in this figure, the pellet would havebeen fully sublimated. The keg as illustrated in FIGURE 12 has had aquantity of beer drawn therefrom and illustrates the keg in theposition-whereby the beer is forced under pressure through port 347 ofthe tap, generally designated 348 and out the faucet 3 49 upon movingthe lever 350 to an open position.

Once the keg 22 has been removed from the platform 113, another keghaving a cap 346 removed therefrom is positioned on the platform andthen the foot pedal 122 is depressed (rotated in the direction of thearrow 133) to move the bung hole of the keg adjacent the lower end ofthe gathering tube. The aforementioned steps are again repeated forinserting a plastic bag with a Dry Ice pellet therein into the keg.

In order to maintain beer in the keg under sufficient pressure fortapping purposes, it has been found desirable that the Dry Ice pellets360 be of a weight within a specific weight range. We have found thatupon filling the keg of appropriate size approximately /3 full of beerwherein the amount of beer in the keg was approximately 288 ounces it isdesirable to provide a carbon dioxide pellet -38 grams. In such a casethe initial pressure in the keg was 70-80 lbs. while when the last ofthe beer had been dispensed from the keg, the pressure was approximately 10 lbs. Of course it is to be understood that theaforementioned figures have been set forth as illustrative of theprinciples of the invention rather than limitations thereon. v

Even though the description of this invention has stated only a singlepellet of Dry Ice is used, it is to be -understood that a greater numberof smaller pellets or even carbon dioxide snow could he used. However,greater handling problems are incurred, and smaller size particles ofsolid carbon dioxide tend to sublimate too fast, if more than one pelletis used.

Carbon dioxide press 400.In order to properly form the pellet forconvenient handling, and of a size to properly pressurize a keg of beer,the carbon dioxide press, generally designated 400, has been made (seeFIGURES 14 and 15). The carbon dioxide press 400 includes a heavyrectangular base plate 401 mounted on a pair of heavy metal base supportmembers 402. A generally rectangular mounting plate 403 is mounted invertically spaced overhanging relationship to the base plate 461 bytubular spacers 404 located between one end of the mounting plate andthe base plate, there being a bolt 405 extended through an appropriateaperture formed in the mounting plate, through the respective tubularspacer and an aperture formed in the base plate and through ,acorresponding aperture formed in support member. A nut 406 is providedon the lower end of the bolt 405 for securing the above members in theaforementioned relationship.

Secured to the mounting plate intermediate the bolts 405 to extendvertically thereabove is a container 410 of generally tubularconstruction which in turn has secured thereto a lower bottom plate 411.An aperture 413 formed in the bottom plate opens into the hollowinterior of the container and is located directly above the aperture 414formed in the mounting plate.

A grinder wheel 416 is mounted in the container 410, there being ahorizontal shaft 417 journaled for rotation into the container walls andhaving the grinder wheel keyed thereon. Although the top of thecontainer is not illustrated in FIGURES 14, 15, it is to be understoodthat it extends a substantial distance upwardly above the grinder wheel,for retaining unground solid carbon dioxide. The weight of the carbondioxide pressing down against the wheel or additional means (not shown)may be provided to force the solid carbon dioxide in a down warddirection whereby upon turning shaft 417 particles of carbon dioxidesnow are formed.

Secured to the central portion of the base plate on the opposite endfrom the spacers 464 is a form 429 that has a cavity 421 which iselongated in a horizontal direction. The cavity 421 opens upwardlythrough the top of the form and is rectangular in both horizontal andvertical cross-section.

h lounted on the mounting plate directly over form 429 is a two-waypiston cylinder combination 422. The piston cylinder combinationincludes cylinder 418 and a piston 419 with a downwardly extendingpiston rod 421 connected thereto to extend adjacent to the form 420. Anelongated horizontally extending bar 428 is secured at its mid-portionto the lower end of the piston rod by a cap screw 429. Bolted to the bar428 is a ram 430, the lower end of the ram 43% in horizontalcross-section being of size and shape to form a close fit with the sidewalls of the form that surrounds the aforementioned cavity-the upper end430a of the ram is enlarged to form a stop to limit the downwardmovement of the ram into the cavity. It may be noted in FIGURE 14 whenthe enlarged portion of the ram abuts against the form, a Dry Ice pellet33% of a given volume is formed.

A chute 437 is connected at one end to'the bottom plate of the container416 and at the other end rests on the form 420 to direct the carbondioxide snow ground by the grinder wheel 416 into the cavity 421. Thatis,

the aforementioned end of the chute extends upwardly through theaperture 414 formed in the bottom plate to have the upper end thereoflocated directly beneath the grinder wheel. By using the aforementionedstructure and inclining it at a substantial angle, the Dry Ice snow isdirectly conveyed from the container into the form without the use ofadditional apparatus. As a result the potential conveying problem of theDry Ice snow bridging due to sublimation is minimized.

A transversely extending pivot shaft 43% at its either end is secured toa base support member 4% and in a longitudinal direction is located onthe opposite side of the form from the spacers 404. An elongated leverarm 440 is mounted on the pivot shaft to have the pivot shaft extendthrough the mid-portion thereof and to have one end extend outwardlybeyond the base plate. The opposite end of the lever arm is clevised at441 and is located directly beneath the form 420. A pair of verticallyextending lifter rods 444 having upper ends are extended throughapertures in the base plate beneath the form 420, each rod having asmall block 445 secured to the lower end thereof. A short horizontalshaft 446 at its either end is secured in one of the aforementionedblocks 445 for holding said blocks in spaced relation. The lifter rodsare located to position the horizontal shaft 446 in the clevised end ofthe lever arm 449.

Mounted on the upper ends of the lifter rods is a rectangular pusherblock 448 that is located in a recess formed in the form 420 beneath thecavity.

The pneumatic and electrical components which are diagrammaticallyillustrated in FIGURE 14 include a motor 450 drivingly connected to theshaft 417. The motor power supply lines 451 are connected to the timer452. The timer in turn is connected to the main line L3 and via line 454to one terminal of an On-oif switch 47 0. The main line L4 is connectedto a second terminal of the On-otf switch 470. As will be more fully setforth hereinafter the timer is set to operate the motor a predeterminedlength of time in order to control the quantity of Dry Ice snow formedduring a given cycle of operation of the motor.

In order to properly supply air under pressure for operating the pistoncylinder combination 422, there is provided the pneumatic components455. The pneumatic components include an air pressure source 466 that isconnected via line 467 to the first port 460 of the hand operatedfour-way valve 459. The second port 461 of the valve 459 is connectedvia line 465 to the exhaust 464 while the third port 462 is connectedvia line 457 to a ball type check valve 458 that has a free-flow orificetherein to control the rate of flow of air therethrough it to thecylinder. The check valve is connected via line 426 to the lower port424 of cylinder 422. A fourth port 463 of valve 459 is connected vialine 456 to a second ball type check valve 458 of the same naturedescribed heretofore, the ball type check valve in turn being connectedby a line 425 to the upper port 423 of cylinder 418. Thus when thefour-way valve is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 14 air underpressure is applied to the upper end of the cylinder to move the pistontherein from the dotted line position to the solid line position forcompressing carbon dioxide snow into a pellet 330. When the valve isturned to a second position appropriate internal connections are made toconduct air under pressure from the air source 455 to port 460, then toport 462 and through members 457, 453, and 426 to the lower end of thecylinder to move the cylinder back to the dotted line position, port 463at this time being connected to port 461 to exhaust the upper end of thecylinder.

The structure of the carbon dioxide press having been set forth, theoperation thereof will now be described. Assuming now for purposes offacilitating description of the operation of the press that switch 470has been closed and that the four-way valve has been operated to applyair under pressure to the lower end of the cylinder to retract ram 436(see dotted line position of FIGURE 15) and the timer 452 is properlyadjusted, so upon closing the timer switch (which is resiliently urgedto an open position-mot shown) the motor 450 is operated for a period oftime to supply a quantity of carbon dioxide snow having a weight whichis in predetermined weight range. The timer operates to disconnect thesupply of power to the motor until the timer switch (not shown) of timer452 is again depressed. The snow ground by a grinder 416 drops throughthe aperture 41?; onto chute 437 to slide directly into cavity 420. Itis to be noted that it is important that the chute 437 be inclinedsufiiciently so that all snow slides down the chute. If the chute is notsufliciently inclined, the ground snow would bridge across the chute andprevent proper operation of carbon dioxide press.

After the snow has moved into cavity 420 the fourway valve is operatedto the position illustrated in FIG- URE 14 to connect port 423 to theair supply and port 424 to the exhaust. Due to the provision of the ballcheck valve 458 the cylinder is exhausted at a controlled rate tothereby control the rate of descent of the ram 439. By controlling therate of descent of the ram the snow in the press is more evenlydistributed and there is less chance of the snow splattering uponinitial contact of the ram therewith. It is to be noted that due to theprovision of the narrow slot 431 in the upper side wall portions of theform, carbon dioxide gas can escape through said slots. If the slotswere not provided the carbon dioxide snow would not be properlycompacted.

The pellets must be compacted at least a minimum amount, otherwise saidpellets fall apart when they are removed from the press to the openedbag. Also it is important that the elongated length of the cavity beparallel to the ram. Otherwise, if for example, the press were toelongate the direction of movement of the ram, the snow at the top ofthe press would be pressed hard while the snow at the bottom of thepress would not be compacted to anywhere near the same degree. As aresult if the pellets are formed in the last mentioned manner, the lowerends thereof tend to fall apart.

With the press of this invention the quantity of snow ground by properlysetting the timer fills the form to a height H and is compacted to aheight C. The quantity ground is within a given weight range as setforth heretofore. Since a ram has been provided with the enlargedportion 430a to limit the downward movement of the ram and a givenvolume of snow is started with, said snow is compacted the desiredamount.

After the ram has moved to the lower position illustrated in FIGURE 14,the four-way valve is manually operated to connect port 423 to theexhaust and port 424 to the air supply to cause the ram to be retracted.Next the lever 445) is pivoted in the direction of the arrow 449 formoving the pusher 448 in an upward direction (arrow 450) to lift thecompacted pellet 330 out of the cavity. The pellet is then conveyed intothe open month 210 of a bag held by the bag gathering mechanism eithermanually or by an appropriate machine. It is to be mentioned that as apractical matter the Dry Ice pellets used for pressuring purposes cannotbe stored for any substantial length of time since said pellets willlose a greater amount of weight than that which is tolerable forpurposes of pressurizing the liquid in the liquid container.

Once the pellet has been removed from the press the handle lever 44 0 ismoved in the direction opposite arrow 449 to retract the pusher into therecess and then the timer switch is operated to actuate the motor forgrinding a second predetermined quantity of carbon dioxide snow.

The steps of this invention for pressurizing a liquid container are:forming carbon dioxide snow from a solid carbon dioxide and thenpelletizing an amount of carbon dioxide snow having a weight in apredetermined weight range. -An expandable plastic bag of a capacitylarger 17 than the capacity'of the liquid container is grasped andpositioned to have the mouth extend upwardly. Next the mouth of the bagisop'ened and thenthe p'elletized carbon dioxide is inserted into themouth of the bag. Then the mouth of the bag is sealed and the bag withthe carbon dioxide pellet therein is gathered. After the bag has beengathered in a bundle, it is inserted through a hole of the liquidcontainer and then the cap is loosely screwed therein. After the carbondioxide has sublimated a sufiicient amount to expand all the air out ofthe liquid container, the cap is tightened and the liquid container isready to have a beverage dispensed therefrom.

It is to be understood that the sequence of steps set forth heretoforeof forming a carbon dioxide pellet and conveying a bag so as to have themouth in an open condition in the gathering tube may be reversed or thesteps carried'on atthe. same time, provided the carbon dioxide pellet,prior to being sealed in the bag, is not permitted to stand a sufiicienttime to lose aquantity of Weight which will result in the keg not beingproperly pressurized.

As many widely apparent different embodiments of. this invention may bemade Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is tobe understood that we do not limit ourselves to the specific embodimentsherein.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for forming a carbon dioxide pellet comprising a frame, apellet form having a cavity mounted on the frame, means on the framehorizontally offset and 'at a higher elevation than the form forgrinding solid carbon dioxide into snow, an inclined chute located inthe framefor conveying the carbon dioxide snow from the grinding meansto the form and ram means located on the frame directly over the-formfor compacting the carbon dioxide snow in the form into a pellet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterizedin that there isprovided on the frame, means for pushing.

a pellet in the form out of said form cavity.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the grindingmeans includes a container, a grinder wheel, a shaft journaled insaid'container to mount said wheel for rotation, means for driving saidshaft, and means for operating the drive means apredeterminedtimeinterval whereby a given volume of carbon dioxidesnow is formed.

4. The apparatus of claim. 1 furthercharacterized in that the chute isangled at an angle sufficient to directly convey the ground snow intothe form and that the ram includes a piston cylinder combination.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that there isprovided control means for limiting therate of movement of the pistontoward the form.

6. Apparatus for gathering a flexible bag of rectangular plan having abag mouth in the top portion thereof and inserting the gathered bag intoa liquid container having a closeable opening comprising a frame havinga forward end and a rearward end, a'vertic al gathering tube mounted atthe forward end of the frame to extend adjacent the container opening,said tube having a rea'rwardly facing slot of a length greater than thecorresponding dimension of said bag, means for conveying the bag fromthe rearward end of the frame through said slot into the tube, saidconveying means carrying the bag to position the portion of the baghaving the bag mouth in the tube prior to the remaining portion of thebagbeing positioned in the tube, means for driving the conveyor means tofirst position the bag mouth portion in the tube and then 'atlater' timemove the remaining portion of the bag into the tube, means mounted onthe frame for opening the bag mouth of the bag when said bag mouthportion is located in the gathering tube, said bag opening meansincluding a pair of vacuum devices engageable with opposite walls ofsaid bag and being movable between a datum position and a bag gripposition in overhanging relation to said tube, means on the frameadjacent the bag opening means for sealing the mouth portion of the bag,and a plunger ass'embly mounted on the frame for forcing the baggathered in said tube through said tube into the liquid container.

7. In a bag gathering and bag insertingmachine for inserting a sealedfiexible wall bag with a sublimateable material therein into a containerhaving a hung hole, a frame, meansmounted' onthe frame for gathering abag, said gathering means including a gathering tube having an elongatedslot for the bag to pass through and an open end of a cross sectionalarea less than the corresponding area of the bung hole, and means formoving the bag through said slot into the tube to gather said bag,- anda plunger assembly mounted on the frame for forcing the gathered bagthrough the tube into a liquid container having a bung hole locatedbeneath said tube.

8. In a bag gathering and inserting machine for inserting a sealedflexible wall bag having a sublimatable ma.- terial therein through acontainer opening, a frame, means mounted on the frame for compacting abag with a sublimatable material therein into a bundle having a crosssectional area of a size and shape-smaller than the size and shape ofthe container opening, means mounted on. the frame to cooperate with thebag compacting means for moving the compacted bag through the containeropening into thecontainer and means on the frame for operating thecompacting means and bag. moving means in the aforementioned manner. n p

9. Apparatus for gathering a flexible heat sealable bag having a mouthat the top' adjacent one edge of the bag and inserting said baginto acontainer having an opening therein comprising a frame having alongitudinal axis, a front end portion and a rear end portion, twohorizontally spaced longitudinally extending carrier plates mounted onsaid frame, first conveyor belt means mounted on the rear .portion'ofsaid plates forconveying a bag between said plates from the rear end ofthe frame in a forwardly direction with the bag mouth at the top forwardedge, second conveyor belt means mountedon the carrier plate forreceiving the bag from the first conveyor belts meansand carrying saidbag to the forward end of the machine, a vertical gathering tube havinga vertical slot on the frame adjacent the forward portion of said secondconveyor to have the bag move by said second conveyor means through saidslot, means for driving said. conveyor means, means for selectivelystarting and stopping said drive means, means on the frame adjacent thegathering tube for opening the bag mouth when said bag month has beenmoved into the gathering tube, means on the frame adjacent the gatheringtube for sealing the bag mouth after said bag mouth has been moved intothe gathering tube, and a plunger assembly mounted on the frame at ahigher elevation than the gathering tube for pushing a bag that has beenmoved into the gathering tube through the gathering tube into a liquidcontainer that has been positioned beneath the said tube with the bunghole adjacent the lower end of said tube.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that the plungerassembly includes a vertically extending piston cylinder combination, aplunger connected to the piston and means mounting said combination forpivotal movement between a position'with the plunger directly over thetube and a position with the plunger horizontally offset from the tube.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in-that there isprovided a platform for supporting the container, means for moving saidplatform between a lowered position and an elevated position to placethe bung hole adjacent the gathering tube and means for releasablylocking said platform moving means in the elevated position.

12. Apparatus for forming a self contained pressure generating systemfor liquid container having abung hole and locating the system in thecontainer comprising a base mounting plate, a pellet form having acavity therein, said form being mounted on said plate, means for formingcarbon dioxide snow, means for mounting the forming means on the platein vertical and horizontal spaced relation to said'form, an inclinedchute mounted for directly conveying carbon dioxide snow from theforming means to the pellet form cavity, ram means for compacting, thecarbon dioxide snow in the form cavity into a pellet, means for pushingthe compacted pellet out of the form cavity, an elongated frame having alongitudinal axis, a front portion and a rear portion, means located atthe front portion of the frame for gathering a'flexible gas imperviousbag into a cross sectional area smaller than the corresponding area ofthe bung hole, conveyor means mounted on the frame for conveying a bagfrom the back portion to the gathering means, said conveyor meansincluding means for conditioning a bag to have a pellet inserted throughthe bag mouth and carrying said bag to position the mouth portion of thebag at the top to the gathering means prior to the remaining portion ofthe bag, means for driving the conveyor means to first move the mouthportion to the gathering means and after a time interval move theremaining portion of the bag to the gathering means, control means foroperating the drive means in the aforementioned manner, bag openingmeans on the frame adjacent the gathering means for opening the bagmouth to have the pellet insert therein when only the mouth portion hasbeen moved to the gathering means, means adjacent the gathering tube forsealing the bag mouth after a pellet has been inserted into the bag,said control means being operated after the bag month has. been sealedto move the remaining portion of the bag to the gathering means, andplunger means acting in cooperation with the gathering means forinserting the gathered bag with a carbon dioxide pellet therein into aliquid container having the bunghole positioned adjacent to and on theopposite side of the gathering means from the plunger means, and controlmeans for operating the bag opening means, heat seal means and plungermeans in the aforementioned sequence.

13. Apparatus for inserting a plastic bag of rectangular plan and havinga bag mouth into a liquid container having a hung hole comprising aframe, means for first positioning said plastic bag to have solid carbondioxide placed therein and then gathering said bag, the aforementionedmeans including means on the frame for opening the bag mouth prior. tothe bag being gathered, means on the frame adjacent the bag openingmeans for sealing said bag mouth prior to the bag being gathered, meansacting in conjunction with the bag gathering means for inserting thesealed bag through the bung hole and control means for operating theaforementioned means. 14. A machine for inserting a flexible bag ofrectangular plan with a solid body therein into a container having afilling opening of a size smaller than the corresponding dimensions ofthe bag, said solid body of a substantially smaller size than the bag,comprising a longitudinally extending frame having a forward end and arear end, means mounted on said frame for conveying a bag in a fiatcondition from the rear end to the forward end, said conveying meansincluding a first pair of conveyor belts on the frame for conveying theflat bag from the rear portion to the intermediate portion of the frameand a second set of conveyor belts on the frame for receiving the bagfrom the first set of belts and conveying it to the forward end, meanson the forward end of the frame for conditioning the bag to have thebody inserted thereinto, means for sealing the bag, and means for movingthe bag with the solid body therein through the container opening intothe container.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that it includesmeans mounted on the rear end of the frame for guiding the bag into theconveyor means at the proper elevation for being sealed by the sealingmeans.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that the firstpair of endless belts are mounted on said frame to grippingly engage thebag only at the top portion thereof and that means are mounted on theframe beneath said belts for sterilizing the bag.

17. In apparatus for inserting a flexible wall bag into a containerhaving a filling opening of a smaller area than the bag in a flatcondition comprising a frame, avertical tube having a lower end ofgenerally the same cross sectional area as said filling opening, saidtube being mounted on the frame, means for forcing the bag into the tubeto reduce the effective cross sectional area of the bag, means on theframe for forcing a bag located within the tube through said tubeopening and through said container opening into the-container when acontainer is located beneath said tube.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further characterized in that there isprovided a platform for supporting the container beneath the tube, meanson the frame for moving said platform between an elevated position and alowered position and means for releasably locking said platformelevating means in an elevated position.

19. A carbon dioxide press for forming apellet comprising a frame, apellet form having a cavity mounted on the frame, means on the frame forforming carbon dioxide snow, means on the frame for conveying the carbondioxide snow from the forming means into the pellet form cavity and rammeans offset from the carbon dioxide snow forming means and located onthe frame for compacting the carbon dioxide snow in the pellet formcavity to form a pellet, said form cavity being longer in a direction atright angles to the direction of movement of the ram means than in thedirection of movement of said ram means, said ram means including a rammounted to be moved at least partially into the pellet form cavity andformed to abut against the form to limit the movement of the ram intothe form cavity and thereby form v a pellet of a given size and shape.

20. A carbon dioxide press for forming a pallet comprising a frame, apellet form having a cavity mounted on the frame, means on the frame forforming carbon dioxide snow, means on the frame .for conveying thecarbon dioxide snow from the forming means into the pellet form cavityand ram means offset from the carbon dioxide snow forming means andlocated on the frame for compacting carbon dioxide snow in thepelletforming cavity to form a pellet, said ram means including a ram mountedto be moved at least partially into the pellet form cavity, said formhaving a side wall with an elongated narrow slot formed therein topermit escape of gas as the ram moves into the form, said slot beingelongated in the direction of movement of the ram, and means mounted onthe frame for pushing the compacted pellet out of the form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,253,880 Zieber Aug. 26, 1941 2,499,386 Joerren Mar. 7, 1950 2,725,168Lindstaedt ct al Nov. 29, 1955 2,815,152 Mills Dec. 3, 1957 2,964,165Riley Dec. 13, 1960

